Method and apparatus for controlling the feed-water supply to steam boilers



April 5 1926.,

GUENTHER METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING THE FEED WATER SUPPLY o STEAM BOILERS Filed May 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 0270 Gum/7mm A TTORNE YS 0. GUENTHER METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING THE FEED WATER SUPPLY TO STEAM BOILERS Filed May 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 KM E 8 V1 W. M MN R EE 0 Va n G MA m m 0 Patented Apr. 5, 31%26.

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orro GUENTHER', ornss'nnrenn', enaivu in'yylts'srenon r0 'II-IE SUPERHEATER oomr iv'r, on NEW YORK, n. Y., A coarons'rrou' or DELAWARE.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING THE FEED-VIATER SUPPLY TO STEAM BQILERS.

Application filed May 29, 1923. Serial No. 642',209.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, Orro GUENTZ-IER, a citizen of Germany, residing at Esslingen, l/Vurttemberg, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods andApparatus for Controlling the Feedater Supply to Steam Boilers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a method of "and means for supplying feed water to steam boilers.

VVhen, in steam boilers, the feed water is delivered exclusively into the steam space, such water reaches the water space of the boiler so highly heated that the difference in temperature between the feed water and the boiler water is very slight. Since the smaller the temperature range between heating gases and water, the lower the thermal etliciency, this method of feeding is undesirable at such times at which there. is a heavy demand for steam, due to prolonged power development by theengine.

lVhen, on the other hand, thefeed water is delivered exclusively into the water space of the boiler,-there'is danger of the production of injurious effects upon the strength and tightness of the boiler owing to the increase of difference in temperature between water and heating gases. a

The object of this invention is to provide a method by-which the disadvantages of either of the two systems of feeding hereinabove referred to may be minimized, and the efliciency of operation of the boilermay be increased; and also to provide apparatus by means of which said method may be carried out, either automatically or by manual control.

My improved method contemplates the introduction of the feed water to'the steam space of the bollerat such times at which the demand for steam is very much dimins ished or absent, and its introduction to the water space, when the demand for steam isaotive- 1,.

My improved apparatus consists of a feed head provided with separate wateroutlets so arranged that when theoutlet communicating with the steam space is closed the;

outlet connected with the water space of the boiler reopen, or; the reverse.

In the drawings forming a part hereof,

Fig. l is an enlarged sectional detail through a feed head or housing embodyin the principles of my invention, Fig. 2 is an elevatien of a locomotive showing an installation of my invention thereof, and 3 is an enlarged sectional detail of the fluid pressure actuatin means showing the opening position of the stean'i-controlled piston for delivering water to the conduit which leads to the water space of the boiler.

One form of my improved teed head is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which'l, is the general housing of the ap paratus, the upper part of this housing being divided into two chambers 17 and 18, by the partition l; the lower part of th housing 1, being termed into a single chainer 7. and 6 are two check valves, vhich, when seated, close the chambers 17 and 1S .i' ron th lower chamber 7. Tile check valve 5, when li d, opens communication between the lower chamber 7, an

the upper chamber 17, and the check valve 6, when liited, opens communication betweenthe lower chamber 7 and the upper chamber 18. p

The u aper chambers 17 and 18 are provided with openings 19 and 20, to give to the checlr valves Sand 6, these openings being closed with suitable caps when the apparatus is in service. The chamber 1. provided with a lateral outlet 8, connoc ing' withtlie steam dome oft-he boiler, and the chamber 18 is provided with a similar outlet 9, connecting with the water space of the boiler.

The lower chamber 7, is connected to the feed water supply by a pipe 2. To the v lower chamber 7, tl ere is attached a oylinder 16, in which is fitted piston 12, this piston llbeing tree to move axiall in the cylinder 16 according to the preponderance of pressure upon its upper or lower side. The cylinder 16 is fitted with a pipe connection 3, communicating with the delivery passage of the stean' beyond the control valve, for instance,with the valve chest of the locomotiveengine. At 13 is a relief pipe connection, providing communication between the space above the piston 12 and the outer air. A; 1 1, is a spindle or valvestem by vhich the piston 12 connected the check valve 6. Slidably mounted upon the spindle 11 is a valve for closing the chamber 7 from the cylinder 16.

At is a lever-arm mounted upon a stem 1%, this stem 1- passing through a suitably packed opening in the wall of the chamber 7. The lever arm 15 is in engagement with the valve spindle 11, so that a movement imparted to the lever arm 15 by a torsional ettort upon the stem 14, will be transmitted through the valve spindle ll, and enable the check valve to be opened or closed positively from without.

The operation of such apparatus is as follows:

.Vhen the control valve, for instance the throttle valve of the locomotive is opened and steam is being delivered, for instance when the engine is in tractive operation, steam pressure from said passage, for instance t'rom the valve chest of the locomotive, entering the cylinder 16 by the pipe 3, forces the piston 12 upwards, this motion being transmitted to the check valve 6 by the spindle 11, lifting the check valve 6 from its seat and opening communication between the chamber 7 and the chamber 18, so that feed water entering by the pipe 2, will have a passage through the chamber 7, past the lifted check valve 6 to the port 9, and on through to the water space of the boiler.

lVhcn the control valve is closed, or steam pressure through the pipe 3 is cut otl by any suitable means, check valve 6 closes, because of the boiler pressure above it, and the pressure of the feed water opens the check valve 5, and passes through the chamber 17 and port 8 to the steam space of the boiler.

The opening and control of the check valve by the action of the steam pressure in the cylinder 16, may be replaced by the operation of the valve spindle 11 by the lever arm 15 and stem 14, the latter being manually controlled by the operator.

By my invention I utilize only excess steam, which might otherwise be wasted, tor preheating the feed water, or, in other words, I preheat the feed water within the steam space only when a suitable excess of steam is available; while, on the other hand, when there is an immediate or continuous demand for steam I introduce the feed water into the water space and thus do not diminish the available supply of steam.

It should be understood that the apparatus above. described is illustrative only, and that my nethod not limited to the employment of such apparatus; and that many changes of form and structure may be made in such apparatus, itself. withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention as covered by the claims. For instance the outlet 8 may be connected to the water space and the outlet.

9 to the steam space, when the apparatus is to be manually operated.

I claim:

1. The method of supplying feed water to a steam boiler which consists in conducting the water to the boiler in two separate paths, one of which paths terminates in the steam space of the boiler and the other of which terminates in the water space of the boiler, permitting the teed water U, flow through the first named path when the demand for steam substantially dimmished, while preventing its flow through the other path, and permitting the how of the feed water through said other path, while preventing its flow through the lirst named path when the demand 'l'or steam is active. 2. In a feed water control mcclmnism to! steam boilers the combination of a housing having an outlet for receiving a conn artion to the steam space of a boiler, an outlet tor receiving a connection to the water space of a boiler, an inlet for receiving a (militia-- tion from a source 0t water supply, a member for controlling said first mentioned out let. a member for closing the other outlet, and fluid pressure actuated means responsive to fluctuating pressure in the. steam line dcpending upon steam demand 't'or directing the flow through one or the other of said outlets.

3. In a feed water control mechanism l'oisteam boilers the combination of a housing having an outlet for receiving a connection to the steam space of a boiler, an outlet for receiving a connection the water spacc of boiler, an inlet for receiving a con nection from a. source of water supply, a member for closing said first mentioned outlet, a member for controlling the oth r outlet, fluid pressure actuating means responsive to fluctuating pressure in the steam line depending upon steam demand for directi the flow through one or the other oi ..l outlets, and a manually operable controlling device connected with one of said closing members.

4. In the feed water control me hanism for steam boilers, a tee. water supply. a pair of conduits connected with said supply. one of said conduits being connected with the boiler below the water line thereof and the other of said conduits being connected to said boiler above said water line, a valve in each of said conduits and means for opening the valves automatically to supply feed water through the second of said conduits when the demand for steam is; substantially diminished and throught the lirst of said conduits when the demand to! sir-am is active.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto sci my hand.

OTTO GUEXTHER. 

